Internal Medicine Coding Alert

Tip: Check whether more detailed diagnoses are more appropriate.

Conjunctivitis (also known as pinkeye) is one of the most common and treatable eye infections in children or adults. The condition involves an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the tissue covering the eye and inner surface of the eyelid. Conjunctivitis can be infectious or noninfectious.

Currently, ICD-9 includes a range of four- and five-digit diagnosis codes for various types of conjunctivitis. Physicians rely most often on the 'unspecified' diagnosis of 372.30, (Conjunctivitis unspecified).

ICD-10 change: The new code for unspecified conjunctivitis when ICD-10 goes into effect in October 2013 will be H10.9 (Unspecified conjunctivitis). ICD-10 will still include many other codes related to conjunctivitis, so check your physician's documentation to verify whether a more specific choice is appropriate. When you don't have many details or when the physician hasn't yet pinpointed the type of conjunctivitis, you'll report H10.9.